Tinker chosen as a test base for mental health study

Published Nov. 14, 2014
By Kimberly Woodruff
Staff Writer

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla - -- Tinker AFB is participating in an important study with Penn State University to better understand the stigma of military personnel and their families seeking help for mental health issues.

Chosen as one of four test bases, Tinker will be part of the pilot study over the course of a year with the goal to reduce the stigma associated with mental health problems, concerns and seeking help.

"By way of posters, Facebook and public radio announcements, we hope to encourage service members and their dependents to seek help early when mental health issues are more easily managed," said Capt. Mayrin Munguia, clinical psychologist and officer-in-charge of Mental Health with the 72nd Medical Group.
The captain said the intent is on increasing the service member's awareness of helping agencies and resources available to them and their families.

"Seeking help is not punitive," Captain Munguia said. "All the resources that are at Tinker and in the community are designed to assist us in moments of need."

Captain Munguia said the importance of seeking help surrounds the idea that there are times in life people need help navigating stressors, either predictable or unpredictable, that are thrown their way.

"That's when having a good support system and the ability to access all these different helping agencies becomes so crucial," she said.

Posters, designed with the help of Airmen, will hang in popular locations such as the fitness centers, base clinic and Tinker Exchange, and will be changed out every few months. The posters will contain helping agencies' contact information.

The study will be monitored and evaluated based on analysis from Facebook and weekly surveys given to individuals at events on base such as commanders calls.
The captain states there are no negative consequences for the large majority of those seeking help from mental health services.

"We are working hard during this campaign to alleviate some of those fears since we consistently find those who need our help and don't receive our help in a timely manner are most likely to experience negative consequences at work and with family," she said.

Mental health providers are mandated reporters for cases that include self-harm, harm to others, Uniform Code of Military Justice violations, drug use/and or excessive alcohol use. Usually, the content of information is kept confidential, but command is contacted if safety plans or team treatment meetings need to occur.